On July 21st about 30 Kossacks met up at the California Maritime Academy where I work. The highlight of the day was the opportunity to tour our ship the Training Ship Golden Bear. Recently one of our cadets released a time-lapsed video of the ship navigating the Panama Canal last June. He was given permission to fix his camera in the ship's bridge for maximum impact. Turn your speakers on and follow me below the croissant for the amazing journey.
It was opened on August 15th,1914 however, poor political conditions due to the onset of world war 1 made the significance of such an amazing construction appear much less popular.
The total cost incurred for the US in the project was US$375,000,000, highest ever spend by any government during those decades.
Theodore Roosevelt's sheer will and determination was pivotal in the completion of such an enormous project.
Nearly 20,000 French and 6,000 American workers died during the completion of the project.
The first ship to pass through it was named Ancon and it was allowed to sail on August 15th, 1914.
For nearly 20 years, it was under US control however, as Panamanians started opposing US control, in the year 1977, US president Jimmy Carter signed a treaty with Panama.
On December 31st,1999, Panama was officially handed over the rights to control the canal way.
The toll charges of the passing ships through this passage is decided by the size of the ship and the cargo it's carrying.
Till date, highest toll charges have been paid by a Disney cruise ship that paid $330,000 in 2008.
The lowest charge was paid by adventurer Richard Halliburton in 1928, who was asked to pay 36 cents for swimming across the length of this great passage.
The US paid US$40,000,000 for the rights of property of this wonder to take over the project from them.
Nearly 40 ships cross Panama Canal daily.
12 - 15 thousands ships cross it per year.
It takes 8 - 10 hours to transit this canal and approximately 3 hours to pass the locks.
Not less than 60,000,000 pounds of dynamite were used to excavate and construct it.
It started operating on 24 hours since 1963 after the introduction of fluorescent lightning system.
Nearly four and half million cubic yards of concrete was utilized into the construction of the locks and the canal.
A part of US Navy, the hydrofoil Pegasus crossed it in a record time of 2 hours 41 minutes.
The video below gives you more information about what our academy does and why it is so valuable to the maritime industry as a whole.
I hoped you enjoyed spending some time in Panama this evening.